Machine for forming and applying index tabs to file cards

ABSTRACT

A machine for automatically forming index tabs and for applying the tabs to file cards at selected points along the upper margin thereof. A file card to be tabbed is supported on a carriage, the margin of the card overhanging the carriage. The carriage is shiftable along a platform with respect to a linear scale, to align a selected point on the margin with a tab applicator station. At the station, the margin partially overlies the upper end of a hole in a die plate below which is disposed a strip of tab material. A reciprocating die punch cooperating with the die plate, acts in passing through the die hole to excise a tab from the strip and to press it against the underface of the margin whose upper face is backed by an anvil. To effect bonding of the tab to the card margin, the tab material may be provided with a pressure-sensitive layer or a hot-melt coating, in which latter event the anvil is heated to activate the coating when the margin is sandwiched between the pressed tab and the anvil.

United States Patent [191 Dorman 1 MACHINEYFOR FORMING AND APPLYINGINDEX TABS TO FILE CARDS [75] Inventor: Isidore Dorman, Whitestone, NY.

[73] Assignee: Bell & Howell Company, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Jan. 31, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.: 221,896

Primary Emmi ner- -Edward G. V AttorneyMichael Ebert Jan. 8, 1974 [57]ABSTRACT A machine for automatically forming index tabs and for applyingthe tabs to tile cards at selected points along the upper marginthereof; A file card to be tabbed is supported on a carriage, the marginof the card overhanging the carriage. The carriage is shiftable along aplatform with respect to a linear scale, to align a selected point onthe margin with a tab applicator station. At the station, the marginpartially overlies the upper end of a hole in a die plate below which isdisposed a strip of tab material. A reciprocating die punch cooperatingwith the die plate, acts in passing through the die hole to excise a tabfrom the strip and to press it against the underface of the margin whoseupper face is backed by an anvil. To effect bonding of the tab to thecard margin, the tab material may be provided with a pressure-sensitivelayer or a hot-melt coating, in which latter event the anvil is heatedto activate the coating when the margin is sandwiched between thepressed tab and the anvil.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 1 MACHINE FOR FORMING AND APPLYING INDEXTABS TO FILE CARDS RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to file cards having index tabs thereon, andmore particularly to a machine for automatically forming individualindex tabs and for applying the tabs to selected points on file cards.

The term card as used herein is intended generally to cover any type offiling element which may be stacked in boxes or in any other form offile receptacle, and it includes oridinary single-sheet file ortabulating cards, aperture cards in which a microfilm slide is mountedwithin a card aperture, microfiches and microfiche jackets of the typedisclosed in Engelstein US.

Pat. No. 3,238,655. The term card is therefore intended to encompass anyexisting form of filing element formed by one or more sheets of paper,cardboard or plastic material or combinations thereof.

In a random access system of the type disclosed in the above-identifiedpatent applications, use is made of file cards each of which has anupstanding tab at a longitudinal point along its upper edge or marginwhich is determined by its index number. A distinct tab position isassigned to each card in the system in order to facilitate selection bya file clerk or by a selector mechanism.

These index tabs may be formed by die-cutting the margin of the card todefine the profile of a tab, in which case the tab is integral with thecard. Since the tab is relatively small, this type of die-cuttingoperation wastes most of the marginal material, for to create anupstanding tab at a selected marginal position between the ends of thecard, one must cut away material on either side of the tab. Die-cuttingto form tabs is only possible with file cards having margins withsufficient excess material to provide the desired tab. But with existingfile cards which were not originally intended to be tabbed and havingmargins too narrow to pennit diecutting to define tabs, the onlyfeasible way to tab is to add a tab to the margin and not to die-cut themargin.

Another objection to an integral tab is that its strength is determinedby the nature of the card material. Where the card is fabricated oflow-cost paper or paperboard, the resultant tab is weak and incapable ofsurviving repeated handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, the main object ofthis invention is to provide an automatic machine for forming individualindex tabs and for applying the tabs to the margin of file cards at anyselected point thereon.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide anautomatic machine of the above type, which is adapted to excise tabsfrom a continuous strip of tab material and to apply the tabs so formedto the margin of a file card to effect bonding of the tab to the margin.

A significant advantage of the invention resides in the fact that thestrip may be formed of a high strength syn- 2 thetic film materialaffording long-lasting tabs adapted to facilitate handling andselection, and capable of surviving under heavy use.

Also an object of this invention is to provide an efficient, reliableand high-speed machine of the above type which is simple to operate.

Briefly stated, these objects are attained in a machine having acarriage for supporting the file card to be tabbed, the margin of thecard overhanging the carriage to expose the under and upper facesthereof. The

carriage is shiftable along a platform with respect to a linear scalewhose indicia represent the full range of tab positions along themargin, whereby an operator is able to align a selected position on themargin with a tab applicator station.

At the station, the card margin partially overlies the upper end of thehole in a die plate above which is mounted a stationary anvil.Cooperating with the die plate is a reciprocating die punch which entersthe lower end of the die hole and passes therethrough to excise a tabfrom a strip disposed below the die plate, and to press the tab againstthe lower face of the margin at the selected point thereon, the upperface abutting the anvil.

To effect bonding of the tab to the margin, the strip is provided with ahot melt coating and the anvil is heated, thereby activating the coatingon the tab when the margin is sandwiched between the pressed tab and theanvil. Alternatively, the strip may be provided with apressure-sensitive layer to cause the tab to stick to the margin when itis pressed thereagainst.

OUTLINE OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the invention aswell as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made tothe following detailed description to be read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a machine in accordance with the invention forforming and applying tabs to file cards;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by lines3-3 in FIG.-l;

FIG. 4 shows a file card of the microfiche jacket type having a tabthereon as applied by the machine;

FIG. 5 is a section taken through the upper portion of the microfichejacket;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tab applicator station;

FIG. 7 is a section taken through the station at a point just prior to atab punching operation;

FIG. 8 is a section taken through the station at a point when the punchis pressing the tab against the margin of the file card;

FIG. 9 shows the punch retracting at the applicator station after thetab has been applied to the card; and

FIG. 10 is an alternative form of tab applicator station, shown inperspective.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, there isillustrated a machine according to the invention, for applying indextabs to file cards. In the example shown, the card is in the form of amicrofiche jacket, generally designated by numeral 10. In practice, themachine may be used with any known form of file card, for its operationis by no means limited to microfiche, jackets.

Each microfiche jacket card 10, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, isconstituted by two transparent rectangular panels 11 and 12 insuperposed relation, the panels being formed of clear, flexible plasticmaterial, such as polyester film or any other suitable transparentsheeting having high tensile strength. Interposed between these panelsand bonded thereto are spacer ribs formed by longitudinally-extendingstrips 13 in parallel relation to define parallel channels open ateither end.

The channels in the microfiche jacket are of like width to accommodatemicrofilm strips of a given size, such as 16 mm. or 35 mm. film. Theupper edge of the jacket is provided with a marginal band 14 whosesurface'is adapted to accept typing so that identifying data may beapplied thereto.

In order to facilitate file card selection, an index tab T is secured tomargin 14 at a distinct. longitudinal position thereon. For example,assuming that the file cards are intended for a file card deck of 50cards, tabs are applied at incremental points along a scale of to 49.Thus each tab in the deck is displaced from all other tabs to facilitatesearching and selection.

Reverting to FIGS. 1 to 3, it will be seen that file card is supportedon a rectangular carriage 15 which is slideable in a linear path along araised platform 16 mounted on four corner posts 17. Linear carriagemovement is assured by front and rear pairs of rollers 18 and 19,coupled to the underside of the carriage and running along the oppositesides of a guide bar 20 supported below platform 16 and extending thefull length thereof. The shafts or roller pairs 18 and 19 pass throughparallel slots 21 and 22 in the platform which serve to limit the extentof platform movement in either direction.

Carriage 15 is shifted by means of depressible finger piece 23 formed ofspring metal. One end of this piece is secured to the carriage, theother end being provided with a bent tongue whose tip portion goes underthe platform. A locking tooth 25 mounted on the tip portion of thetongue is adapted to engage the teeth of a rack bar 26 mounted below theplatform adjacent the front edge thereof. In order to shift thecarriage, the operator presses down on finger piece 23, therebydisengaging tooth 25 from the rack bar and freeing the carriage formovement.

The carriage is shifted with respect to a linear scale 27 mounted on topof platform 16 adjacent the front edge thereof. The scale is providedwith indicia in the desired incremental range of tab positions on thefile card (i.e., 0-49). Carriage 15 is provided with a pointer 28 thatscans the scale.

In order to apply a tab at a desired position on the margin of the filecard supported on the carriage, the finger piece 23 is pressed down bythe operator, and the carriage is shifted to align the pointer with themark on the scale having the desired index number. The finger piece isthen released to lock the carriage at the selected position.

Pointer 28 is aligned with a tab applicator station mounted on the rearedge of the platform, the station being generally designated by numeral29. The applicator station includes a bracket 30 supporting a die plate31 at a position slightly raised above platform 16 to create a passageadmitting a continuous strip 32 of tab material. The strip is preferablyformed of high-strength,

synthetic plastic flexible film material of a gauge imparting thedesired degree of stiffness and durability to the tabs excisedtherefrom.

As best seen in FIG. 3, strip 32 is unwound from a supply reel 33 heldin a reel housing 34 supported below the platform. Reel housing 34 isattached to the platform by screws to facilitate removal thereof when afresh reel is required. Strip 32, drawn from the reel, travels throughthe die passage between die plate 31 and platform 16, and enters the nipbetween an indexing wheel 35 and a spring-biased pressure roller 36.Thus as wheel 35 is advanced in a step-wise manner, the strip 32 isintermittently drawn through the die passage.

Cooperating with die plate 31 is a punch 37 having a cross-sectionalformation matching that of the hole in the die plate. This formation maybe trapezoidal, arched or in any other desired configuration. Punch 37projects axially from the upper end of a piston 38 supported forreciprocal movement below platform 16 by a pair of spaced piston rings39 and 40. The lower end of piston 38 is pivotally linked to one end ofa crank lever 41 supported on a fulcrum 42. The other end of lever 41has a follower roll 43 thereon which engages the profiled surface of acam 44 operatively coupled to a motor 45.

Cam 44, which is caused to make a single full revolution each time motor45 is switched on by the operator, is provided with a drive pawl 46.This pawl, at the beginning of a cam revolution, engages one of theequispaced pins 47 in a circular series thereof mounted on the face ofindex wheel 35. Hence, for each revolution of the cam, the index wheelis advanced one step (the distance between the adjacent pins), therebypulling the tab strip 32 a short distance to present a fresh surface topunch 37.

After the strip is advanced, cam 44 proceeds through the action of thefollower roll on crank-lever 41, to cause piston 38 to rise, causingpunch 37 to pass through an opening in platform 16 in registration withthe shaped hole in die plate 31.

The relationship of the tab strip 32 to margin 14 on the card at the tabapplication station is illustrated in FIG. 6 where it will be seen thatstrip 32 moves stepwise in the die passage defined by the space betweenplatform 16 and die plate 31. Margin 14 of the file card rests on top ofthe die plate under anvil 48. As the machine proceeds to form and applytabs to cards placed on the platform by the operator, tab shapedopenings T0 T0 T0 etc., are cut in the strip 32.

The sequence of actions taking place in the course of a single operatingcycle is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

In FIG. 7, a fresh section of strip 32 is presented between platform 16and die plate 31. Margin 14 of the file card to be tabbed, partiallyoverlies the hole in die plate 31 below anvil 48. Punch 37 is movingupwardly through the opening in platform 16 toward tab strip 32. This isthe state of the machine just before a tab is excised from the strip.

FIG. 8 shows the position of punch 37 after it has excised a tab T strip32 and raised the tab through the hole in die plate 31 against theunderface of margin 14. The margin is momentarily sandwiched, underpressure, between tab T and heated anvil 48 to activate the hot meltcoating on the tab, thereby effecting bonding of the tab to the margin.At this instant, the punch is at zero velocity, just before reversingdirection.

In FIG. 9, the punch is undergoing its return stroke, and margin 14 ofthe card with tab T attached thereof is no longer pressed against theanvil; hence one may now remove the tabbed card from the machine.

Instead of using a hot-melt coating on the tabs, attachment may beeffected without a heated anvil, as shown in FIG. 10, wherein anvil 48is cold. However, in this instance, strip 32' is provided with apressuresensitive layer so that the tabs, when pressed against themargin, adhere thereto.

While the machine shown in the drawing is manually set and loaded, inpractice these procedures may be automated or computer-controlled.

While there has been shown and described preferred embodiments of amachine for forming and applying index tabs to file cards, it will beappreciated that many changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention.For example, to expose the margin of the card to the applicator, it neednot over-hand the platform, but the platform may be provided withsuitable openings at selected points. Also, in practice, one may applytabs to edges other than the upper margin.

I claim:

l. A machine for forming and applying tabs to file cards at selectedpositions along the upper margin thereof, said machine comprising:

a. a platform,

b. a carriage movable along the platform with respect to a linear scalehaving indicia therein in a range corresponding to the range of tabpositions along the margin of the card, said carriage being adapted tosupport a card to be tabbed, and

c. an applicator station mounted on said platform, said stationincluding a die plate raised above said platform to define therebetweena die passage for a strip of tab material, said plate having a die holewhose upper end is partially covered by the margin of the card on theplatform, an anvil mounted slightly above said die hole, and areciprocating die punch arranged to pass through an opening in saidplatform in registration with said die hole and to enter and passthrough said die hole, thereby excising a tab from said strip andpressing it against the margin which is backed by said anvil, said tabhaving a coating thereon to effect bonding thereof to the margin.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip has a coatingof hot-melting material thereon, and said anvil is provided with aheater to activate the coating on thetab to effect bonding.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said 5 jacket having amarginal band.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carriage is providedwith rollers coupled to the underside thereof by shafts passing throughslots in the platform, said rollers engaging the opposite: sides of aguide bar disposed below said platform to maintain the carriage on alinear path.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5, wherein said carriage is providedwith a depressible finger piece having a bent tongue provided at its tipwith a locking tooth which engages the teeth on a rack bar placed belowthe platform, the tooth being disengaged from the bar by pressing downon the finger piece, thereby freeing the platform for movement.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip is drawnincrementally from a supply reel by means of an index wheel, and meansto coordinate the action of said wheel and said reciprocating punch,whereby first said strip is drawn to present fresh material to thepunch, and then said punch is reciprocated to excise a tab from thestrip and to apply it to the margm.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said c0- ordinating meansincludes a motor-operated cam having a drive pawl for engaging a seriesof pins on said wheel to advance the wheel one step for each camrevolution, said cam being engaged by a follower mounted on a cranklever for reciprocating the punch.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip is formed offlexible synthetic film material 10. A machine for forming and applyingtabs to at least one edge of a file card at selected positions thereon,said machine comprising:

a. an applicator including a punch and die arranged to perforate a stripof tab material and to carry the tab punched from the strip intopressure contact with said edge of the card, and

b. positioning means to selectively position the card relative to theapplicator, whereby the tab is applied thereto at a desired point, saidpositioning means being constituted by a carriage supporting the cardand movable along a platform supporting said applicator with respect toa linear scale having indicia thereon in a range corresponding to therange of tab positions along said edge of the file card.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 3,784,439 January8, 1974 Patent No. Dated Inventor(s) Isidore Dorman It is certified thaterror appears in the above ident ified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 20 "over-hand" should have read over-hang Signed andsealed this 23rd day of April 197b,.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJ LETCHEILJIQ. O. I J'ARSHALL DAL-IN Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents PO-IOSO (10-69) I USCOMM.Q 903175. 5

a grshcoytmviur wnlm'mg OFHCE Iago-355444

1. A machine for forming and applying tabs to file cards at selectedpositions along the upper margin thereof, said machine comprising: a. aplatform, b. a carriage movable along the platform with respect to alinear scale having indicia therein in a range corresponding to therange of tab positions along the margin of the card, said carriage beingadapted to support a card to be tabbed, and c. an applicator stationmounted on said platform, said station including a die plate raisedabove said platform to define therebetween a die passage for a strip oftab material, said plate having a die hole whose upper end is partiallycovered by the margin of the card on the platform, an anvil mountedslightly above said die hole, and a reciprocating die punch arranged topass through an opening in said platform in registration with said diehole and to enter and pass through said die hole, thereby excising a tabfrom said strip and pressing it against the margin which is backed bysaid anvil, said tab having a coating thereon to effect bonding thereofto the margin.
 2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said striphas a coating of hot-melting material thereon, and said anvil isprovided with a heater to activate the coating on the tab to effectbonding.
 3. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said strip has apressure-sensitive layer thereon whereby said tab, when pressed to themargin, adheres thereto.
 4. A machine as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid file card is constituted by a multiple-channel microfiche jackethaving a marginal band.
 5. A machine as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid carriage is provided with rollers coupled to the underside thereofby shafts passing through slots in the platform, said rollers engagingthe opposite sides of a guide bar disposed below said platform tomaintain the carriage on a linear path.
 6. A machine as set forth inclaim 5, wherein said carriage is provided with a depressible fingerpiece having a bent tongue provided at its tip with a locking toothwhich engages the teeth on a rack bar placed below the platform, thetooth being disengaged from the bar by pressing down on the fingerpiece, thereby freeing the platform for movement.
 7. A machine as setforth in claim 1, wherein said strip is drawn incrementally from asupply reel by means of an index wheel, and means to coordinate theaction of said wheel and said reciprocating punch, whereby first saidstrip is drawn to present fresh material to the punch, and then saidpunch is reciprocated to excise a tab from the strip and to apply it tothe margin.
 8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein saidcoordinating means includes a motor-operated cam having a drive pawl forengaging a series of pins on said wheel to advance the wheel one stepfor each cam revolution, said cam being engaged by a follower mounted ona crank lever for reciprocating the punch.
 9. A machine as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said strip is formed of flexible synthetic filmmaterial
 10. A machine for forming and applying tabs to at least oneedge of a file card at selected positions thereon, said machinecomprising: a. an applicator including a punch and die arranged toperforate a strip of tab material and to carry the tab punched from thestrip into pressure contact with said edge of the card, and b.positioning means to selectively position the card relative to theapplicator, whereby the tab is applied thereto at a desired point, saidpositioning means being constituted by a carriage supporting the cardand movable along a platform supporting said applicator with respect toa linear scale having indicia thereon in a range corresponding to therangE of tab positions along said edge of the file card.